SAMOA AND THE UNITED STATES.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 51, 21 September 1878, Page 4

SAMOA AND THE UNITED STATES.

(Proui thi r-'.jt rimes, July ;>!.) The appreciation of the hem • s to I e -erived from tho treaty i Dterod into be..vecn the Governments oftbi United >tates and Samoa, seems to l« of a . ry high character on both sides. \\'o can readily understand the recognition by the Samoans of the good which s likely to accrue to their State, torn as ;i is b\ faction, by a consent of tho two belligerent parties to concede the points if dispute now existing between thorn and to show partially their estimation of the good to be derived by a return to that peaceful condition to winch they have so long been strangers. But we altogether fail to see how tho advantages anticipated by America, or a certain party tberein, are to be realised ; or whence the benefits so confidently oxpectcd and proclaimed, are to arise from the fact of the treaty between tho United Spates and Samoa, tho text of which we publish in another part of our columns. If, however, the feeling of the American people is to be gathered from the New York Tribune," it must be felt that, in the United States,credence is really given to the most extravagant representations of the blessings which arc to accrue from tho treaty. When a grave journal such us is the "Tribune," ran in all good faith declare to its readers that the interests ceded by the treaty

" amount, in commercial value alone, to several millions of dollars annually," a very serious question arises as to whether the Americans really know the value of that to which they have (dodged a kind of quasi-protection.

The circumstances which —form the American point of view—not alone led to the acceptance and ratification of the treaty, hut are now dwelt upon as evidence of the intense desire entertained by •ireat Britain to assume the sovereignity of Samoa, seem .scarcely to have been described as correctly as they doubtless would have been, had those charged with the task, have been in possession of facts. The estimate of tho " several millions of dollars annually " to he saved or attaiaed by the treaty, is in itself sufficient to demonstrate that great ignorance with respect to the matter exists somewhere. The same spirit of deduction which enabled the inventor to arrive at the millions of dollars, must also evidently have been at work before a conclusion .such as that " English diplomacy to destroy American influence and interests in those islands, and to get control both of their govenment and trade," could have arrived at. The two assertions suit each other admirably. The 0:10 in just as correct and reliable as the other. And so, no doubl, in the fulness c£ time will America, find them.

It is curious to watch how the jealousy wliich is entertained of British supremacy in theso seas allows itself to be worked upon by.representations, the merest un- ; prejudiced enquiry into which would expose their utter absurdity and groundlessness. It is gravely assumed by the correspondent of the journal from which we quote—and whose article was telegraphed from Washington, so important an aspect is it evidently intended to bear —first that Stoinberger established a government for the Samoans, and secondly that this was overthrown by British interference and .intrigue. Both assumptions are wrong. The first, indeed, has somewhat colorable grounds ; the second, is something worse than incorrect. It partakes of the character which attaches to assertions into the particulars of which those who maintain them decline to enquire, lest any supposed reliability with which they are regarded while unquestioned, may bo found to be without justification.

If by the word "government " is to bo understood a stato of matters in which the people for whose benofit it is constituted are to occupy themselves in tho erection of forts from which to fire on passers by, and to generally maintain a guerilla warfare one upon the other, to tho exclusion of all attempts at systamatic industry or effort for the support and advancement of their country, then did lie fail in the object which, once attributed, has now become assured, unto him. But. if the efforts of Colonel Steinberger—and it is well to remember that it is to that gentleman, and to him alone that the establishment of tho " government " for Samoa is credited—resulted in naught but aggravation of bitterness and hostility between the people themselves ; if it practically led to nothing but disorganisation, and the rejection even of that control to which they had for generation upon generation submitted amongst thomselvcs, then may Colonel SteinI ergor's " established government " be more properly ranked among his " eccentrically unique experiences in that part of the world " which tho Washington < orrespondent of the " Tribune" announces to his readers, the gallant—and veracious—Colonel is about to publish, than among facts recognised because they exist. The government mihl the man have alike passed away tix>ra the Samoans. Their trace marked in uuarchv, in confusion, in blood.

In face of the fact that tho Sainoans :ient a deputation to Fiji to sock that protection from tho (lag of Great .Britain which they had been unable to assure ; rom the United .Status, notwithstanding (ho government established by Colonel iiteinberger it certainly appears rather unjust to acousc England of having exercised her diplomacy to overthrow on iuatitutionso thoroughly stable. It seems oruel to taunt the Dritish nation, particularly

when it is acknowledged that it has got contiol loth of the government "I'd trade," notwithstanding the t it "every possible agency had Leon culled into operation fur the purpom of destroying " Americau influence and interests in then islands." The only apology which can be olfeied for Great BritUl), and the only mode hy which her Statesmen can lessen the disgrace of having been worsted by the United States in tins contest for tho favor of Samoa, is to be found in the fact that at about the same time when Samoa opened negotiations through Sir A. Godon. the Cabinet was somewhat occupied in dealing with a matter, which, though no doubt of less imp rt ne, s;..i claimed precedence. They were obliged to postpone the consideration of the Samoan, to that of the Russo-Turlcish, question. But, still, the Americans should not grumble. See what they have gained through England's absurd adherence to the proprieties. And have gained it cheaply, too. We hope that after they have fully realised all the benefits which the treaty confers, they will at least pay Colonel Steinberger's little claim of " two and a half million of dollars, which has been presented against tho English Government, by his New York attorneys.' The millions of dollars annually, to which the interests ceded by the treaty are calculated to amount, will surely be considered as most ample ; and the well known magnanimity of the United States, and the thank fulness for the rich prize which so evidently has fallen to its share, can scarcely be better illustrated than by the withdrawal of the Colonel's little bill. Tho fact is, and it is one which is to bo deeply regretted, that with all the interest which England takes in these seas, she will i:;!. willingly annex any of the islands, Samoa included. Her efforts

and appearance commence with missionary enterprise, and are forced into prominent action through tho somewhat ostentations piety of the worthy patrons of Exeter Hall, and the indefatigable Secretary of the Aborigines Protection So-

ciety. Directly anything further be urged, the vision of the much-enduring English rate-prayer, determined and wrathful, presents itself to the shrinking gaze of the Colonial office, and the ap parition is to be quieted only by the announcement that no tuitner annexation shall take place. English economy proves the degree ef English pietism. The extent of philanthropy of a large section of the British public is onlv to be equalled by the care with which it guards any approaob to its pocket in support of its loudly proclaimed diatribes against moral wrong. Vt lien money is required to redit-as physical, evils, or to bring within the pale oi civilised government the nation hitherto outcast, the christian ' >sos:i swells with a sense of of manl) indignation at the bare idea that the British rate-prayer shall he. exposed to the chance ot further burthen. It was the same with respect to Fiji; it has been the same with regard to Samoa; it will be the same with the other islands of the Pacific, desirable though their annexation and civilisation would be.

That section of the American public which apprehends any interference with Samoa, may rest perfectly easy, so far as England bo concerned. The millions of dollars which they anticipate as an annual Christmas box, may be enjoyed for all time, if they continue until Great Britain interfere. But the utter absurdity of the review taken of the matter cannot bo better illustrated than by the fact of the assertion made " that the English, so often our masters in diplomacy, have taken advantage of America dilatoriness, to intervene and take practical possession of these islands, an event, which, in all probability, will annul our treaty with tho Samoans, and rob us of all the benefits, political and commercial." This is almost on a par with that profound political wisdom which, in a postage stamp printed for tho proprietors of tho " Samoa Times," finds tho most irrefragable proof of the insiduous conduct of Great, Britain, and its determination to exercise its sovereignty. Says the " Tribune," " in addition to this, tho letter itself, containing this significant news, is stamped witli an English stamp, printed for the Samoan Government, bearing an Eng-lish-Samoan device, characterising it as ' Samoan Express Postage Sixpence' More pertinent and conclusis'o evidence of the establishment of English authority and influenco in these islands can hardly ho demanded." Nor could it. By those who believe in the reasoning of tho " Tribune," or that the force of absurdity can further go.

Could the truth of the mutter, and the source of inspiration be arrived at, we should not be surprised tu find the correspondent in the person of Colonel Steinbergcr himself. The concluding paragraph about the dollars and the NewYork attorneys and the English Government, is, to say the least, highly suggestive.